Empowering Young Workers and Women to Strengthen Trade Unions

Public Services International (PSI) Indonesia held an Field Organising Workshop for Young Workers and Women entitled “Organizing Young Workers, Empowering Women: Strengthening Trade Unions” in Surabaya, East Java, on August 5–6, 2026. A total of 36 young workers and women from various PSI affiliated trade unions in Indonesia participated in this activity (Serikat Pekerja PLN, Serikat Pekerja PT PLN Nusantara Power, PP PT PLN Indonesia Power, Serikat Pegawai PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, and SP BPJS Ketenagakerjaan). Field organizing is a practical and strategic approach to strengthening trade unions by engaging workers directly at the workplace and community level. It focuses on identifying workplace issues, recruiting new members, developing grassroots leaders, building organizing committees, and conducting campaigns that improve workers’ rights, gender equality, active participation of women and young workers, and working conditions. Equipping young workers and women with organising skills enables them to become active agents of change within their unions and workplaces.

The workshop was held against the backdrop of growing challenges faced by young workers and women, driven by changing employment relationships, the rise of precarious work, and persistently high levels of discrimination and underrepresentation in union leadership. Through its field organizing approach, PSI is fostering the emergence of a new generation of leaders equipped to strengthen unions, expand membership, and promote more inclusive and representative leadership structures.

The first day opened with an online session on “Why Are Trade Unions Important? What Have They Done for Us?” In this session, participants were invited to understand the history of the birth of trade unions, the purpose of their formation, and the basic principles and ideology that make trade unions a primary instrument for workers to fight for their rights, improve working conditions, and build solidarity in the workplace. The discussion was interactive, with participants sharing experiences regarding the challenges of unionization in their respective sectors.

During the session on the Structure and Functions of Trade Unions, participants gained a deeper understanding that trade unions play a far broader role than simply responding to workplace disputes. The session highlighted the essential functions of trade unions, including protecting workers’ rights, improving working conditions through collective bargaining, representing workers in various forums, resolving industrial relations conflicts, and influencing company and government policies related to employment. Participants also shared experiences from their respective organizations, providing practical insights into how trade unions operate in different workplace settings and enriching everyone’s understanding of union practices in the field.

In this session highlight that trade unions are not simply organizations that appear when problems arise. They are enduring instruments of collective struggle, built to protect workers’ rights, strengthen workers’ bargaining power through dialogue and negotiation, and ensure that workers’ voices are represented in every policy-making process that affects their lives and livelihoods. To remain strong and relevant, trade unions must also invest in their future. This means actively developing young leaders who can bring fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation to the movement. At the same time, unions should create meaningful leadership opportunities for women, recognizing that inclusive leadership leads to stronger representation and more effective advocacy. By nurturing the next generation of leaders and promoting gender-inclusive leadership, trade unions reinforce their ability to defend workers’ rights, respond to emerging challenges, and build a more equitable and democratic labor movement for the future.

On the second day, participants attended a session on Introduction to Labor Law and Workers’ Rights. The session introduced the fundamental principles of Indonesian labor law, covering employment relations, workers’ normative rights, legal protection, and the importance of understanding labor regulations as a foundation for workplace advocacy. By providing this essential knowledge, the session equipped young cadres not only to participate actively in organizational activities but also to understand the legal framework necessary to advocate effectively for workers’ rights

The collective bargaining session highlighted the importance of collective bargaining as a fundamental workers’ right that empowers workers to negotiate improved wages, safe working conditions, reasonable working hours, and fair treatment directly with employers. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the role of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) as a vital mechanism for enhancing workers’ welfare through constructive social dialogue between trade unions and employers. Beyond introducing the core principles of collective bargaining, the session also explored practical approaches to effective negotiation. Through discussions and shared experiences, participants learned strategies for building constructive dialogue, strengthening bargaining capacity, and reaching mutually beneficial agreements that promote and protect workers’ rights while supporting positive labour relations.

The workshop concluded with a session on Organizing, Recruitment, and Member Engagement, emphasizing that the strength of a union depends not only on its ability to recruit members, but also on its capacity to build active participation, develop worker leadership, and foster a lasting sense of ownership among members. Participants explored organizing as a continuous process of strengthening solidarity, empowering workers, and creating meaningful pathways for engagement that enable unions to grow sustainably. The session also highlighted the importance of integrating gender equality and care work perspectives into union strategies. Care responsibilities remain heavily feminized, undervalued, and closely linked to persistent gender inequalities, including the gender pay gap. By recognizing and addressing these challenges,  unions can help create more equitable workplaces, better protect vulnerable workers, and address the structural factors that contribute to economic inequality. A stronger understanding of care work and gender justice enables unions to advance more inclusive organizing approaches and build a fairer future of work for all.

“We don’t just want more members, but also more cadres capable of organizing, leading, and mobilizing workers. Regeneration will only be successful if young workers and women are given the space to learn, participate, and take on roles within the organization,” said Indah Budiarti, Project Coordinator of PSI Indonesia.

Through this workshop, participants deepened their understanding of trade unions’ history, roles, and functions while gaining practical knowledge in key areas such as employment law, negotiation strategies, and organizational development at the workplace level.

The workshop served as an important first step in nurturing a new generation of leaders, young workers and women leaders who are equipped to contribute to a stronger and more resilient public sector unions movement in Indonesia. By strengthening leadership capacity and promoting inclusive participation, the program aims to ensure that trade unions remain relevant, responsive, and prepared to address the evolving challenges of the future world of work.